Disability policy announced: A plan to make the “fair go” a reality
27/02/2014
Dignity for Disability Leader Kelly Vincent MLC today unveiled her party’s eight-point policy on disability that sets South Australia on track to make the “fair go” inclusive for all.
“We are a party that doesn’t just oppose, we also propose – this disability policy is a rights-based, solution-filled approach that will make SA a more equitable place for people living with disability,” said Ms Vincent.
The eight points in Dignity for Disability’s action plan are:
– Clear the critical category of the unmet needs list. “The people on this list are classified by the Government as being “homeless and in immediate and high risk of harm to self or others” – yet they are denied basic services such as housing,” said Ms Vincent. “These people can’t wait for the National Disability Insurance Scheme to arrive in five years time, they need help now. Invest in clearing the list, and put an end to one of SA’s most shameful inequalities.”
– Break down the barriers to justice. “People with disabilities are not equal before the law in South Australia,” says Ms Vincent. “We need to fast-track legislation my office has proposed and create provisions that give people with disabilities a legally-admissable voice.”
– Invest in individually tailored early childhood education programs. “Sufficiently funding early childhood education so that each child with a disability can learn as an individual – similar to the proven models we see in the AEIOU Centres in Queensland – means they can grow into productive adults that contribute to our community,” said Ms Vincent.
– End the silo mentality. “The disability and health departments should play for the same team, but instead they cost-shift while people with disabilities languish in hospital instead of going home with adequate support,” said Ms Vincent. “Dignity for Disability will broker a truce in this absurd war.”
– Address high disability unemployment. “The SA public sector employs less people with disabilities than it did four years ago,” said Ms Vincent. “The best way to deal with the complex reasons for high disability unemployment is to lead by example and turn this statistic around.”
– Create more adequate disability housing. “As a group that is twice as likely to live below the poverty line, people with disabilities should be a high priority when building public housing – all ground floor properties should be made accessible,” said Ms Vincent. “Additionally – we need to review the Supported Residential Facilities Act to prevent cost-cutting that prioritses profits and puts residents in danger.”
– Make Adelaide’s bright future an inclusive future. “The city is populated by pop-ups, but it’s a shame many people with disabilities can’t experience them because they’re inaccessible,” said Ms Vincent. “Dignity for Disability will press for some of the city improvement funds to be dedicated to grants that encourage lateral solutions to achieve accessibility.”
– Get people with disabilities moving. “With a comprehensive plan to make public transport accessible to people with physical disabilities and safer for people with intellectual disabilities, as well as to overhaul the taxi voucher system, we will get people with disabilities into the community,” said Ms Vincent.
